Pune: 635 grams gold recovered from chain snatchers' gang

Crime Branch officials have arrested a gang of five chain snatchers who had had unleashed terror across the city. The gang has confessed to committing chain snatchings in Kothrud, Chatuhshrungi, Vimantal, Cantonment and Pimpri-Chinchwad. Police have also arrested a jeweller who used to purchase the stolen goods. A total of 635 grams of gold valuables and two motorcycles have been recovered from the accused.

PROLIFIC: The arrested gang was also operating in other states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and cities like Satara, Nagpur, and Aurangabad

The arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Firoz Khan (19), from Shivajinagar; Hyderali Abbasali Siya (25), from Hadapsar; Kamarali Firozali Shaikh (20), from Bhusawal in Jalgaon district; Roshanali Javedali Shaikh (19), from Parali in Beed district and Mohsin Yusuf Khan (24), from Jalgaon. The jeweller has been identified as Sunil Vamanrao Mangaonkar (45), from Kolhapur district. They have been remanded in police custody till May 12.

Some of the loot recovered. Pics/Mohan Patil

Police Inspector Sunil Pawar, in-charge of Unit-III, Crime Branch, said, "The gang used to approach women on the pretext of asking directions to an address and then snatch their gold ornaments from their necks. They used to come to the city from Lonavala and were using two wheelers to commit the crimes."

"The gang has confessed to having committed 22 chain snatchings and we are confident that more such crimes will be detected during further custodial interrogation. The gang was also operating in states like MP,Rajasthan and cities like Satara, Nagpur, Yavatmal, Buldhana, and Aurangabad, said Pawar.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rajendra Bhamare said, "This year, of the total 280 chain snatchings reported so far, we have detected 180 cases. We will study the possibility of invoking the stringent MCOCA against the accused."